Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.
Fresh and reactive wind slabs may exist on northeasterly aspects at treeline and above.
Recent storm snow and buried weak layers may be reactive to human triggering.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
A new surface crust may exist at all elevations. Strong winds have likely stripped available snow from south and west-facing slopes, redistributing it onto north and east-facing terrain features.
A concerning layer of surface hoar can be found around 30-50 cm deep.
A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground. The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depths at treeline range from 65 to 90 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mix of cloud and clear skies. Alpine wind 20-35 km/h from the south and temperatures near -8 C. Freezing levels drop back to valley bottom.
Thursday/ Friday
Mainly clear with possible valley clouds in some locations. Ridgetop wind 30 to 40 km/h and temperatures near -6 C. Freezing levels at valley bottom.
Saturday
Change is in the air. New snow 10-25 cm with ridgetop winds 40-65 km/h from the west. Freezing levels rise to 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
The greatest reactivity may be found in wind-loaded areas where slabs overlie surface hoar. Consider the potential for remotely-triggering slopes above and adjacent to you.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Buried surface hoar is most likely to be found at treeline and above. Its most triggerable where the recent buried rain crust thins, or disappears at upper elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2